DIY Homeschooler

Looking for ways to keep those little hands busy this summer? Handicraft for Girls by Idabelle McGlauflin is a “tentative course” in:

• Needlework.
• Basketry.
• Designing.
• Paper and cardboard.
• Construction.
• Textile fibers and fabrics.
• Home decoration.

The book was published in 1910 for use in the home or school. It was intended to be a 5-year course (38-week years), so there is a great deal of ground covered!

Every exercise in handicraft should embody an educational principle, making sure the training of the judgment, the eye, or the memory, and tending to develop skill, patience, accuracy, perseverance, dexterity or artistic appreciation.

There are 48 exercises in all, so plan on the exercises taking some time to complete.

Because of the age of the book, some exercises may be less than helpful (corsets and underwaists come to mind). But because there are so many useful skills explained, you may decide to pick one or two to work on during the summer months. For example:

• Practicing basic sewing stitches.
• Making a photo album.
• Weaving a potholder.
• Hemming a towel.
• Or for the really brave, weaving a basket.

The nice thing about the book is that there is a goal to work toward: the finished product. Hopefully, something that can be used or useful.

There is absolutely no value in poor, careless, puttering work. Unless the child has a high ideal and strives to reach it, the time of the lesson is wasted. Encourage self-criticism. Work should be done to one’s own satisfaction whether it is to be seen by others or not.

There are a few rather shrill instructions in the “Notes for Teachers” section. But you know your children.

Many skills to practice. Use as a course during the year, or just pick and choose a project. It’s free!

Free eBook

• Read online
• PDF
• Various formats (Kindle, EPUB)

---

Additional Resources

Activity: Learn to Sew
More updated resources.

Crafts
Other ways to keep hands busy this summer!